Benji Lewis qualifies to run in District 1 race

Qualifying for city election to take place all week between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

On the second day of qualifying for the upcoming Statesboro city council election, District 1 is shaping up to be a three-horse race. On Tuesday, Benji Lewis, a teacher at the Charter Conservatory for Liberal Arts and Technology, qualified to run against incumbent Tommy Blitch and newcomer William Thomas. Now that he’s a family man with a 3-year-old at home and one on the way, Lewis said he wants to see the city move forward and wants to see the city’s infrastructure keep up with economic development. “I’ve been here 32 years and (running for council) is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Lewis said. “I’ve been a recipient of what the community has to offer and I just want to give something back.” Also qualifying this week is DeWayne Grice, co-owner of Lori Grice Photography in downtown Statesboro. So far, there are no candidates qualified in District 4, the seat currently held by councilman Joe Brannen. Qualifying for city council takes place all this week at city hall for the mayor’s seat and seats in District 1 and 4. Those interested in qualifying to run for mayor or city council should see Elections Superintendent and City Clerk Sue Starling on the second floor of city hall, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. To qualify for mayor, a candidate must be 30 years old, must have live in the city limits for two years and must be a registered voter. To qualify for a council seat, a candidate must be 25 years old, have lived in their district for 12 consecutive months before the election and be a registered voter. In addition, a candidate must pay a qualifying fee — $555 for mayor and $225 for council.

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